Cox proportional hazard regression analyses accounting for age, gender, diabetes, renal clearance, C-reactive protein, and hydration status, showed that higher natural log transformed NT-proBNP levels (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13, p < 0.01) were predictive of an increased risk of technique failure, and were also predictive of an increased risk of mortality (HR 1.56, p < 0.01). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is diabetes mellitus.